JCPOA experts discuss sanctions removal in Vienna

EU’s Mora hails delegations’ ‘commitment to success’

International Desk

Talks for the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers continued at the expert level in the Austrian capital on Sunday, two days after Iranian and European chief negotiators returned home for consultations.

The working group on the removal of sanctions met at a luxury hotel in Vienna where two rounds of negotiations have been held since late November with the aim of bringing the US back to compliance with the tattered deal, known as the JCPOA.

Enrique Mora, the European Union’s political director who chairs and coordinates the Vienna talks, said the success of the negotiations “is still uncertain”.

“But, as coordinator, I can’t but commend delegations’ commitment to a success,” Mora tweeted.

The negotiators are expected to return to Vienna Monday to resume talks.

Iran and the remaining JCPOA parties – France, Germany, Britain, Russia and China – seek to reach a “good deal” on the multilateral accord which has been moribund since former US president Donald Trump pulled out of it in 2018 and unleashed a “maximum pressure” campaign by imposing “toughest ever” sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

The Vienna talks are at a critical stage.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on Friday a “good deal” would be within reach “as soon as possible” should the Western side continue the talks with a “realistic approach” and show initiative.

“I would like to say it out loud that Iran welcomes a good deal in the shortest possible time, but achieving such a deal depends on the Western sides,” said Amir-Abdollahian.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Saturday that an agreement to resurrect the JCPOA remained “possible” as the talks advance in a “better atmosphere”.

Borrell said a final deal could be concluded “in the coming weeks”.

   Source: Iran Daily